Re: Sets and Props Critique Thread
True, it's the inherent cleanness and geometry of LEGO make it seem very clean. Old, naturally worn bricks look great,, but when people try to deliberately make them (or usually minifigs) look dirty/damaged using non-LEGO things they just usually end up looking hideous.
I find quite an effective technique is deliberately mixing the old and new light or dark greys. It generally gives the walls (or whatever) more texture, since walls themselves are rarely completely one colour and have subtle variations in colour, unless you're going for a super-sterile-high-tech-facility look. However, I have yet to deliberately implement this technique on a large scale. Incidentally, I faced a similar challenge in my film Monochrome, which takes place in a world without colour. Since I was pretty much restricted to light grey or extremely bright rainbow colours, I tried to make the sets varied by focusing on the design and using lots of slopes, pillars, archways, etc.
An interesting point about the stylization. I remember a philosophy/Theory of Knowledge class I had, which discussed art, and how it filters the scene it portrays (i.e. everyday life/"ugly" things) through its medium to (in theory, at least) create something beautiful. I think this could be extended to cinema and animation. It's particularly noticeable with LEGO, as it is needless to say very different stylistically from real life (or even possibly any other art form--assuming LEGO is considered a form of art. But that's a whole different subject...) I suppose stylization or exaggeration is more difficult in live-action (unless you're going for a really surreal look) but cinematography and lighting can help. For instance, the swimming pool/meeting Moriarty scene in Sherlock has a setting that looks amazing, even though it's mundane and probably pretty grungy in real life. I actually like to think of this effect as the "Sherlock Effect", after my brother pointed out the same thing while watching this scene. (You'll also no doubt recognize my current profile pic from being from the same scene, if you're not familiar with the show already... 
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&Smeagol make the most of being surrounded by single, educated women your own age on a regular basis in college
AquaMorph I dunno women are expensive
